Marcel Pagnol short story contest: 4th edition

Launch of the fourth edition: october 21, 2024

Last year, the Marcel Pagnol Short Story Contest in Allauch broke records with over 300 entries, making it the leading event of its kind. Originating in Allauch and our Provençal region, its reach continues to expand, drawing participants from across France and the Francophone world. This success is due to the legacy of Marcel Pagnol, the prestigious professional jury that grants the award—comprised of writers, literary journalists, and cultural figures—the major media partners, and the loyal sponsors supporting it.

Free to enter, open to everyone aged 16 and above, and offering numerous prizes, the contest is organized by the Town of Allauch and the Marcel Pagnol Museum Association, presided over by Nicolas Pagnol.

Key dates

Launch of the fourth edition: October 21, 2024. Categories:

• Youth (ages 16–18)
• Adults (18 and above)

Deadline for submissions: January 21, 2025. Award ceremony: Saturday evening, March 1, in Allauch.

How It works

Each year, a sentence from a work by Marcel Pagnol serves as the opening line for the short story. Participants are tasked with continuing the story (about four pages or up to 12,000 characters including spaces). For the 2024/2025 edition, the opening line is from La Prière aux étoiles by Marcel Pagnol:

“You see, you have to take me with you. Me, you know, I’m a stray dog. And you know, stray dogs, people think they’re lost, but that’s not true. They’re just dogs searching for their true master. They’re dogs full of love who haven’t had the chance to give it… Don’t you want it, real love?”

The Jury

• Pierre Vavasseur – Jury President, writer, poet, literary journalist, a prominent figure in French publishing.
• Patrick Coulomb – Marseille-based publisher, journalist, and author.
• Marie-Blanche Cordou – Novelist, literary columnist for France Bleu Provence and France 3 Paca.
• Jacqueline Fabre – Culture Representative for the Town of Allauch.
• René Frégni – Award-winning writer published by Gallimard’s prestigious Collection Blanche.
• Franz-Olivier Giesbert – Grand Prize winner of the Académie Française, author, journalist, editor, and biographer.
• Floryse Grimaud – Contest Secretary-General, expert in literary and cultural events and Marcel Pagnol’s work. Founder of the Marcel Pagnol Prize.
• Jérémy Noé – Literary journalist at La Marseillaise, specializing in French and American crime fiction.
• Nicolas Pagnol – Grandson of Marcel Pagnol, dedicated to preserving and promoting his grandfather’s legacy.

Our partners

For this fourth edition, the Marcel Pagnol Short Story Contest in Allauch is supported nationally by Le Point magazine, offering exceptional visibility to participants.

Additional support comes from La Marseillaise, La Provence, France Bleu Provence, Larousse Publishing, Prado Paradis Bookstore, Crédit Agricole, and Cultura Aubagne.

Publication and awards ceremony

The winning stories may be published in the press. For three years, La Marseillaise has featured the winning entries in its weekend Culture section as a double-page spread with illustrations. A collection of the best short stories from all four editions is also under consideration.

The awards ceremony is a festive evening filmed and shared across social media platforms. It gathers the winners, Nicolas Pagnol, Lionel de Cala (Mayor of Allauch and Departmental Councilor), Pierre Vavasseur (President of the edition), the jury, and the partners.

How to participate

• For rules and details, visit: www.allauch.com
• To submit your story: concoursdenouvellesmarcelpagnol@allauch.com
• For assistance, contact the Bernard Monge Municipal Library: +33 4 91 10 49 30